ACMilan- Arsenal Champions League 07/08

I can't say I'm particularly saddened by tonight's result, as Arsenal deserve to go through and simply outplayed us overall.

That said there's one thing that really hurts, and that's Maldini won't reach Moscow and end his career the way he deserved. That said, he's won a lot, achieved more than most players would consider too great to dream and can bring his hunger for success to the club in other ways.

The first half started evenly and up until about halfway I'd say it's arguable we were dominant. However, after that the team suddenly lost all focus and structure, and this lead to the ball being given away time and again. If there's no direction and the opponents press like Arsenal, then it's inevitable you're going to struggle. It's been the story all season, we lack direction and ideas going forward. The only difference today was Arsenal pressed us more than other opponents and so created a lot for themselves.

The second half started the same way the first ended, with Senderos and Eboue's chances. However, we came back into it and the match became a fairly even affair, with us slowing regaining composure and control. However, Fabregas, who was for me the man of the match, had a moment of magic when it didn't seem possible and caught Kalac unprepared. That was a key problem for us though, we afforded far too much space to some of their midfielders at times, with Fabregas given the chance to run the show. Adebayor scored late on, but that's normal as we pushed up and got caught.

Players:

Kalac - Solid, maybe slow to react on the first goal
Oddo - Solid defensively, offered nothing going forward other than useless long balls
Nesta - Solid but struggled against Adebayor. Didn't seem 100%.
Kaladze - Solid
Maldini - Good performance, defensively very good bar one mistake and tried to help the attacking play
Gattuso - Not Ringhio unfortunately, but still not a bad display. His performance rose and dropped simultaneously with our dominance or lack of.
Pirlo - Poor performance, never really seemed to get in the match (even when not pressured).
Ambro - Decent game, he was a massive factor in the second half as he pressed Arsenal high up.
Kaka - A few good runs, but really didn't look match sharp, and distribution wasn't best (other than the Pato chance).
Pippo - Never really in the game.
Pato - Did ok but did show immaturity today with his chance in the first half. Tried to be too cute with the finish when he should have been more direct.
Gila - little impact

I don't feel we were awful, and in periods did well, but we lacked the clinical edge (a factor that's been huge in our success over the Ancelotti era) and couldn't maintain any momentum we built up.

Arsenal must be given credit. It's difficult to come to the San Siro and play like that and they showed incredible character and ability today. Wenger played the game almost perfectly, using Adebayor as the target man to take Nesta out of position and Fabregas to play balls early to catch our defence out. Walcott was a fantastic sub as at that point we'd taken control and they played the counter, with Walcott up against Maldini (who can't match the pace), as well as him defending against Kaka's pace. Arsenal also play the game in a great way, technical and attacking, with fair play.

Today we looked worn out, like a team that's physically drained. The Maldini era for me is almost all but over now (I don't really think he can add much in the league), and I wouldn't be shocked if the Ancelotti era ends too (if it's for Lippi, then I'd accept it, for pretty much anyone else and I'd stick with Carlo). Time to get that fourth spot and start rebuilding our squad in the summer. If Adebayor is actually available come the summer, then he is definitely worth a look, as he could be the big man we're missing up front (something we lacked today too).

On a final note, we may be out but I think we can hold our heads high.

FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

It makes me wonder why everyone in here thinks 'big' changes will happen in the summer. We are far more likely to be told everything is fine, that we don't need alot of new faces and that just 1 or 2 squad players will be enough.

Let's wait and see. My gut feeling tells me that Berlusconi will get whoever Ancelotti / Mourinho asks for...

Originally Posted by forward

don't worry man, they are out of CL as well, literally... I hope Liverpool trashes them

Won't accept both Milano clubs to be out of the championship already, I need Italy to preserve its crown once again, what, would I have to bet on Roma now

To know you is to love you
And everywhere I go everybody knows
To love you is to be a part of you
I've paid for you with tears
and swallowed all my pride

FORZA MILAN!

My dislike to Carlo is not new every one here Know its not today result that made me say this, I am not asking to replace him now, but in the summer and surely new players are needed, any way I am not balnced at the moment I feel like if I am having a nightmare and still can't beleive that we are elimenated and I want to blame any one so I just blame carlo.
guys forgive if I said any thing to any of you tonight.

wow, what a game
I was amazed how Arsenal were dominating most of the time, at one time the possession was 60-30 for the Gooners, the game was excellent for the English, Milan played their worst CL match in history of this generation that has been a Euro powerhouse for the last 4 years and beaten by a bunch of "kids"

Great game by Arsenal, bye bye Milan, this is the slap that you need for putting your heads over the league, now it's the only thing that you got 4th place, Milan will come out with not a single trophy this year, and if there are no summer activities then it could be another dismal season.

Berlesconi needs to get out the cash for the summer to buy 1-2 new players

I have to say it is about time, Arsenal really outplayed us on both matches. Congrats to them.

If is was last season, we played better after New Year but this year the injury bug continued to hurt us and none of our players have a good form right now, heck not a fresh leg let alone good form. The WC and playing 3 days a game really took a toy on us when we are not a good condition team in the 1st place.

Now back to business in Serie A, finish in the 4th place. Bring some reinforcement this summer, get some legs fresh and we come back in no time next year. No more excuse for Berlusconi and Galliani this time I guess.
Oh and one last word, it is pity for Maldini to say good bye like this, oh well, I will cry for him the other time.

anyone think Ancelotti will be made a scapegoat and might not make coach in the morning?

Seriously guys.. put ur place in Carlo's shoes.. What would you have done? play an untested Yoann Gourcuff instead of Ambro?
Who else could he have put in for that sub beside Gilardino and hope he steps up and bring milan to another level? if i had to blame someone for this season, I really would be pointing the gun to Berlu's & Galliani's head. Milan are a Classy team, Yes, but every single time we play with a *YOUNG* & *Energetic* team, we are run to the ground ragged. Lets face up to the facts, last season we were the European Champions simply because of 1 Ricardo Kaka who was having a fabulous season. I was totally embarassed and speechless when my friends (EPL Die-Hards) kept laughing as we were totally dependant on an 18yr old to save our skins. Even the players kept passing to him and hope for him to do something Kaka-like of last season. Boy oh boy, can't wait to see whats the managements reaction to this wake up call.

Originally Posted by Graeme C

anyone think Ancelotti will be made a scapegoat and might not make coach in the morning?

Why not. The best coaches on the world Lippi and Mourinho are without a team at the moment. Why not get one of them.

I am with Carlo Graeme with this poor stuff it was his sucess having us at this level... look the depth of squad of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter, even Liverpool, which team has fewer forwards than us?....

Originally Posted by rosoneri_11

Why not. The best coaches on the world Lippi and Mourinho are without a team at the moment. Why not get one of them.

Im itching for Milan to get Lippi.. Even Donadoni if Italy win euro cup in the summer.

no need to argue with each other now, we should try to make it easier to our selves not to fight.

i dont think carlo will be told to leave so early after our CL exit...we cant have the team falling apart at this time now..we need to reach 4th place and than in the summer is when we can take the team apart and replace the positions that we need to

Why not ? Simply because they've never been part of Milan !!
Costa Curta in few years, Donadoni, Maldini in few years (even if he said he would never be a coach), or many other players from our past, but please, not Mourinho (I like this coach, but his style isn't Milan's style).